The Gracie's are synonymous with Mixed Martial Arts. Royce Gracie single handedly dragged the UFC screaming into existence with his small frame able to choke out bigger and seemingly better men. What's been distinctly missing since Royce Gracie's defeat at Matt Hughes hand, is the next generation of Gracie as a big time player. Roger Gracie is hoping to change that oversight with him joining Strikeforce, as confirmed to The NHB Show this morning by said promotion.

What's distinctly different about Roger, from the likes of Royce and Renzo, is that he is not small. Period. Roger breaks the Gracie paradigm with a 6'4" frame and weighs in at 220 lbs. Despite his massive size (compared to a Gracie he might as well be the Jolly Green Giant) the man has the typical skills of his Gracie pedigree with multiple wins at ADCC and at the World Grappling Championships. He obviously has the Gracie talent in submission-oriented fighting.

Before we go crowning Roger Gracie the next Royce, the guy also inherited another trait of the Gracie name, bad striking. That insufficiency might have worked for Royce in the early days, but with the birth of the "all-around fighter", it usually spells a short career. Roger is 2-0 in his young MMA career and both were by submissions. For him to prove himself in Strikeforce, he will have to improve that area of his arsenal.

Despite his lack of a striking game, Strikeforce has taken in Roger. He isn't talentless, has a great pedigree, and should provide some much needed skill flashes at the heavier weight when it comes to submission and ground game. Can the Gracie change the recent paradigm shift of striking only and lackluster submission skills at the heavier weight? If Roger learns how to duck the probability is very high.